With the date for EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS looming the elections monitoring mission for Romania has started his activities.

The mission is organized by the Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation and gathers 23 members of parliaments that will supervise the process of pre-voting, polling day, tabulation and collation and the proclamation of the results.

Romania is just one of the 28 European Union members countries that will head to the urns this week and the 23 Romanian MP`s had already finished up a training period at Brussels headquarters organized and sponsored by WEMO-WORLD ELECTIONS MONITORS ORGANIZATION and are part of a large group of 500 European MP`s that will be involved in election monitoring across the continent in order to insure a better climate for European elections.

In Romania`s case the elections will take place in accordance with Law No. 33/2007 for the organization of the European Parliament elections, republished and with subsequent amendments and supplements and the Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation has launched a line of administrative and organizational tasks in the context of the preparation and organization of the European parliament supervising mission.

The Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation (IRICE) has completed the accreditation procedure for Romanian parliaments members of the election supervisory team and the accreditation procedure for the foreign observers at the elections of 26 May 2019 for the Romanian members to the European Parliament and more information will be available on the IRICE website, under the special section dedicated to the European Parliament elections – link: https://iricer.webs.com/

Please note that this section will be constantly updated, as new information will become available.

Most recently the Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation (IRICE) has participated in elections observation missions in Asia and Europe.

More details here:

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The photo-journals of other Electoral Monitoring Mission for Parliamentary Elections are available here:

According to the instructions of World Elections Monitors Organization for the organization of monitoring mission to the European Parliament elections, republished and with subsequent amendments and supplements, the World Elections Monitors Organization has presented to EU media a series of administrative–organizational tasks in the context of the preparation and organization of the European parliament elections abroad.

Note that this section will be constantly updated, as new information will become available.

World Elections Monitors Organization-WEMO invites members of European Parliaments, from all over Europe to apply as Observers for our upcoming Election Observation Mission to the European Parliament elections.

The elections will take place on different days in different EU member states between 23 and 26 May 2019.

WEMO President, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea has officially launched the 2019 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS mission explaining that the monitoring activities will take place in 28 countries (United Kingdom included) in order to assess the full compliance of the national members states of European Union to democratic acceptable values and practices in election process.

The WEMO Mission specifically assesses the conditions under which European members states electorate participate in the electoral process.

World Elections Monitors Organization experience in elections issues, our research, observation and assessment focus on the participation of parliamentarians in the process, analyzing the conditions for people to engage in the Elections as voters, candidates, party members, actors in civic advocacy and campaigning, journalists, election administration or support staff, and observers are unique.

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On Election Day(s), the WEMO Mission will deploy its observers in all 28 nation members of the EU to witness opening, voting and tabulating and collating procedures until the final results are announced and presented publicly.

The findings of the mission will be compiled into a report to be published after deployment and distributed amongst relevant authorities.

In 2018 World Elections Monitors Organization has supported the Kingdom of Cambodia in organizing what was described as the exemplary elections of Asia.

Moreover, the – World Elections Monitors OrganizationMission will provide policy advice to stakeholders by giving recommendations on the best possible way to promote and foster youth participation.

The observation of elections by independent observers contributes to the transparency of the process and is a valuable instrument of democratic oversight.

The overall duration of the – World Elections Monitors Organization teams deployment will be from 18 to 22 May (4 nights) in Brussels and from 23 to 27 May in the residential EU country of the observer (which must be a present day member of the Parliament in any EU country).

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The photo-journals of other Electoral Monitoring Mission for Parliamentary Elections are available here:

Creation of a modem and professional civil service

Ensuring the rule of law

Industrialization and economic growth

A unified nation for the future

Transparency and accountability of the state

Today Kazakhstan is offering development and a decent life to all his citizens and the future will be even better.

DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CIVIL SERVICE

Reforming recruitment to the civil service. Recruitment to the civil service must start from junior positions

Recruitment and promotion must be based on a competency-based approach and merit.

Creation of a centralized selection process for new entrants to prevent corruption and strengthen the role of the civil service agency. Implementation of a three staged selection process.

Introduction of a mandatory probation period for new entrants to the civil service for the first time. A 3+3 system will be implemented, with (evaluations and reviews taking place after three and six months).

Salary increases for civil servants performing outstanding work.

Transition to salary increases based on performance and results. Performance will be evaluated on the basis of: achievement of annual objectives for civil servants; achievement of strategic plans for state agencies; indicators of good quality of public services for ministers and Akims (governors), including standard of living and attracting investments; positive macroeconomic indicators for government officials.

Civil service salaries will in the future be adjusted to take into account location.

Mandatory provision of state housing for civil servants on duty. Houses will continue to belong to the state without any right of private ownership.

Introduction of legislation to provide training for civil servants and professional development courses at least once every three years.

Moving to a competitive based system for promotion within the civil service. Strengthening the principle of meritocracy by promoting only through competition among junior civil servants.

Recruitment of foreign managers, experts from the private sector and staff from international organizations when needed for specialist roles. This will make the civil service open and competitive.

Implementation of new standards through the development of a civil service code of ethics overseen by a special commissioner.

Strengthening the fight against corruption, including development of new legislation. Establishment of a special unit in the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Fighting Corruption dealing with systemic prevention and measures against corruption.

Adoption of a new law on civil service, applicable to employees of all state agencies, including law enforcement.

Comprehensive performance reviews of all existing civil servants following the adoption of a new law on civil service, the strengthening of qualification requirements and introduction of a new system for pay.

ENSURING THE RULE OF LAW

Improvement of the justice system to ensure citizens have access to justice. Transition from existing five-level justice system (first instance, appellate, cassation, supervisory and second supervisory) to a streamlined three-level system (first, appellate, cassation).

Stricter qualification requirements and candidate selection process for judicial posts. They will be required to have five years’ experience in the justice system with the introduction of case study tests to assess skills and suitability. Candidates for judicial posts will work as interns in courts for a year with scholarships provided. After the completion of this internship program, judges will have a one-year probation period.

Separation of the Institute of Justice from the Academy of Public Administration in order to strengthen links between learning and judicial practice. This Institute will function under the Supreme Court and will ensure the professional development of judges.

Strengthening accountability of judges. Development of a new code of ethics for judges, which can be used by citizens to appeal a specially established judicial board under the Supreme Court against judges’ actions that they consider improper.

Mandatory implementation of audio and video recording of all judicial processes and hearings. A judge must not stop the recording or edit audio and video materials.

More use of jury service in trials. An implementation of a legal definition of categories of criminal cases, where a jury trial must be mandatory.

Ensuring an improved balance between prosecution and defense in courts by gradually transferring to the judge the authority to authorize investigations, which limit constitutional rights of citizens.

Establishing separate judicial proceedings to consider disputes related to investment. A special investment board will be set up in the Supreme Court to examine major cases.

Establishing an AIFCinternational arbitration Centre in Astana, modelled on the experience in Dubai.

Establishing an international council, with leading foreign judges and lawyers, under the Supreme Court to implement best international standards. The council will advise the Supreme Court on improving Kazakhstan’s judiciary.

Reducing the role of the prosecutor in civil trials to speed up the judicial process. This will require necessary amendments to the code of civil procedure.

Further developing bailiff services in the private sector with the gradual reduction in the number of state bailiff services.

Improvement of the appointment process of police officers to ensure it is based on competency. Introduction of new tests for new candidates and existing police officers to assess personal qualities and professional skills.

Appointing staff of law enforcement agencies to the state service system. Introducing common rules of service, those to take into account features of each law enforcement agency.

Establishing a local police service accountable to local executive agencies and the local community. Responsibilities of local police will include ensuring public order, traffic control, preventing domestic violence and preventing minor offences.

Traffic wardens will be provided with video recorders, which will register everything that a police officer does during the shift.

Ensuring police transparency by establishing public councils, which examine citizens’ appeals against actions by police officers who violate ethical standards. The status and mandate of public councils will be enshrined in the legislation.

Creating an internet portal based on the national information centre “map of criminal offences”. This map will display all offences committed in the country no later than a week after the crime took place to help increase public accountability and police effectiveness.

Establishing an effective system of rehabilitation for citizens released from prisons and registered by the probation service. Development of a comprehensive strategy for social rehabilitation and a standard for special social services.

Modernization of prison infrastructure through public-private partnerships. International experience will be studied to see how the private sector can be engaged to invest in building, maintaining and managing prisons.

INDUSTRIALIZATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Privatising agricultural land in order to improve its efficient use. Introducing amendments to the land code and other legal acts.

Improving the procedure of changing the purpose of land use. Regular monitoring of agricultural land use and the transfer of all unused lands to the state to allow further privatization.

Improvement of tax and customs policies and procedures. Reduction of number of customs rates of the Single Customs Tariff through the ‘0-5-12’ model within homogeneous products groups of 6 items of the FEACN.

Implementing the “single window” principle for exporters and importers during customs procedures. Development of the electronic declaration system to enable the automated clearance of goods and reduction in the number of documents needed for export and import and their processing time.

Integrating customs and tax systems. To ensure proper taxation, importers will be tracked from the moment goods enter Kazakhstan until their sale.

Introducing “Post Factum” mode of the custom clearance. Providing participants an opportunity to produce goods prior to the submission of declaration for goods.

Simplification of legalization procedure for property and money. Introducing amendments and additions to the existing legislation.

Introduction from January 1, 2017, of the universal tax declaration of incomes and expenditures for civil servants with expansion over time to all citizens.

Establishment of centres for processing tax declarations. These will have access to the archive of electronic documents of tax payers. The introduction of the risk management system will see citizens rated against tax control risks. After the first application, the individual will not be reviewed again for three years.

Improvement of indirect taxation mechanisms. This will include detailed consideration of introducing sales tax instead of value added tax.

Improvement of current tax regimes with mandatory introduction of tax registration for incomes and expenditures.

Improvement of processing permits. Introduction of the three-stage process of receiving construction permit (“30-20-10”). The first level is the issuance of an architectural and planning assignment, which will take up to 30 days. The second stage is agreement of the project design (layout), which will take up to 20 days. The third stage is the permit itself, which will take up to 10 days.

Stage-by stage removal of the state monopoly of assessing pre-design and design documentation. This role will be transferred to the private sector.

Introducing an effective method of estimating costs of construction. A new pricing method in construction will improve the estimation of construction costs at current prices with actual market value of materials, products, equipment, and salary, and will ensure prompt updating of costing standards.

Replacing old and obsolete construction standards and rules used since the Soviet period with the eurocodes system. Adoption of new regulations will allow the use of innovative technologies and materials, increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s experts on the construction services market, and will provide an opportunity for Kazakh companies to access foreign construction services markets.

Reorganization of electric power industry. Introduction of a single purchasing agent. This will help decrease the difference in tariffs between the regions.

Expanding regional electricity network companies. This will help to increase reliability of energy supplies, reduce costs of supplying electricity to other regions and prices for consumers.

Implementation of new electricity tariffs to attract investments to the industry. The new tariff will cover both the financing of capital expenditure and generating costs for the power used.

Reforming the work of the antimonopoly committee and aligning it with the OECD standards. The committee must be focused on the promotion of competition between businesses.

Strengthening the institute of the business ombudsman to protect the interests of entrepreneurs. The institute will include business representatives and the national chamber of entrepreneurs.

Attracting at least ten international companies to the processing sector to produce export goods and ensure Kazakhstan’s access to global markets. Promoting new opportunities to international businesses at international economic forums.

Establishment of joint ventures in the priority sectors of the economy with “anchor investors” – international strategic partners (as currently practiced by Air Astana and Tengizchevroil). In the future, the state’s share in these joint ventures will be floated as the IPO. Establishment of a favorable migration regime, based on the experience of the US, Canada and Australia, to attract high-quality international experts.

Attracting strategic investors to the energy saving industry. Their main task will be to encourage the development of companies in the private sector to provide energy saving services with the return of their expenditures and financial profit arriving from the reduction of energy costs.

Attracting strategic investors to develop dairy production. The main task will be to export up to half of the produced goods to the CIS countries within three years. The work will be based on the experiences of New Zealand’s Fronterra and Denmark’s Arla, with the development of cooperative production taking place in rural areas.

Attracting strategic investors to develop production and processing of meat. The main task is the development of raw materials for production and export of processed products.

Implementation of the “national champions” initiative with the focus on supporting leaders of medium-sized businesses in non-resource based sectors of the economy. This will provide an opportunity to create competency centres where aspiring businesspeople can learn the necessary skills.

Development of two innovative clusters to accelerate the creation of a knowledge-based economy. Scientific centers and laboratories will be established at the Astana business campus of the Nazarbayev University to conduct joint scientific and research projects, their development, testing and commercialization. They will be encouraged to cooperate with local and foreign high-tech companies.

Development of the law “On commercialization of the results of science and (or) science and technical activities”, which defines the process of financing innovation in industry. The focus of scholarly grant and program structure will be reformed to reflect the needs of the State Program of Accelerated Industrial and Innovative Development.

Further integration of Kazakhstan into the international transport and communication routes. Launch of the project to establish a multi-modal “Eurasian transcontinental transport corridor”, which will allow free transit of freights from Asia to Europe. The transport corridor will include routes through Kazakhstan, Russia and further into Europe; through Kazakhstan from Khorgos to the Aktau port and through the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, and Georgia. We will aim to work with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Establishment of an international aviation hub. With the participation of a strategic investor, a new international airport of the highest international standards will be built near Almaty.

Establishing “Air Astana” and “KTZ” as major international operators. “Air Astana” will focus on international routes and open new routes to major financial centers of the world (New York, Tokyo, Singapore). Development of “Air Astana” will be carried out in accordance with plans by “KTZ” to develop alternative routes, which will help reduce the cost of freight shipments by more than half.

Improve the effectiveness of the state air transport management to increase attractiveness of air transit through Kazakhstan. Activities of the Civil Aviation Committee will be focused on the model of the UK civil aviation authority and the European aviation safety agency.

Making Astana a Eurasian business, cultural and scientific centre, attracting researchers, students, entrepreneurs, tourists from the region. A modern international transport and logistics system, including a new terminal at the airport will be established in the city.

Tourism in Kazakhstan-a way further for the country!

Establishing the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), and giving it a special status consolidating legally within the constitution. Establishment of the center as a financial hub for the CIS countries, as well as the region. An independent commercial law system, which will function on English law principles and with a judicial corps consisting of foreign experts will be established. The goal is for Kazakhstan’s financial hub to join the top 20 financial centers of the world.

Develop a strategy to ensure that the financial center provides specialized services to the capital markets as well as Islamic finance services. Development of new types of financial services, including private banking and asset management. Introducing a liberal tax regime for the center. Possibility of establishing an offshore financial market. Introducing the principle of investment residence like in Dubai.

Making English the official language of the financial center. Its independent legislation must be developed and applied in English language.

Ensuring international transport accessibility to the financial center. Establishment of a network of regular and convenient air services between the financial center and other leading financial hubs.

Increasing transparency and predictability of the subsoil use sector by introducing the CRIRSCO mineral reserves international reporting standards.

Introducing a facilitated contracting method for all mineral resources by using the best international practices.

Increasing the quality of human capital on the basis of the OECD countries’ standards. Stage-by-stage implementation of 12 years of secondary education, improving the standards of school education in order to develop higher literacy standards. Introducing per capita financing for high schools and establishing a system of expanding successful schools.

Training highly qualified staff in the top 10 leading colleges and 10 higher education institutions that focus on six key sectors of the economy. Sharing their experience with other educational institutions in the country.

Moving gradually towards the self-management of universities, taking into account the experience of the Nazarbayev University. Transformation of private universities into non-profit organizations in line with international practice.

Stage-by stage transition to the use of the English language in the education system. The main aim is to increase competitiveness of students when they leave and position the educational sector as attractive for international students.

Implementation of mandatory social health insurance. Strengthening financial sustainability of the health system through the principle of mutual responsibility of the state, employers and citizens. Priority financing of the primary health care. Primary care will be the core of the national healthcare for prevention and early fight against diseases.

Development of private health care, corporate management for health facilities. Introduction of a corporate governance at healthcare organizations in order to enhance accessibility and quality of the healthcare services through competition among the organizations for financing within the healthcare insurance. Encouragement of privatization of the public healthcare organizations and extension of the guaranteed healthcare package provided at private healthcare organizations.

Establishment of a commission on health care service quality under the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development. The main aim is to introduce best standards of health care service (treatment protocols, personnel training, medicines provision, qualityand access control).

Liberalization of labour relations and development of a new labour code.

Modernisation of the social benefits system, social assistance will be provided only to citizens who are genuinely in need of it. State targeted social assistance to citizens with working capacity and low income will require them to actively participate in programs that enable them to find employment.

Kazakhstan President is having an ambitious plan: making his country a role model for the world

IDENTITY AND UNITY

Development of the draft patriotic act “Mangilik El” (Eternal Nation)

Development and implementation of the large-scale project of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan “Big Country –Big Family”, which will strengthen Kazakhstan’s identity and create conditions to form one civil society. All the work will be connected with the implementation of the concept of development of the tourist industry by 2020 and establishment of regional tourist clusters: “Astana – the Heart of Eurasia”, “Almaty – Kazakhstan’s Free Cultural Zone”, “Unity of Nature and Nomadic Culture”, “The Pearl of Altai”, “Restoration of the Great Silk Road”, “the Caspian Gates”.

Development and implementation of the national project “MeninElim” (My Country) that aims to strengthen civil identity. The implementation of a number of technological projects is envisaged. They include the creation of the large-scale internet project “Encyclopedia of Kazakhstan”, which will enable citizens and foreign tourists to discover more about the country. The portal will include 3D video tours of Kazakhstan, information on history and culture of the country, as well as interesting events. The portal will act as Kazakhstan’s “business card”, as well as a national guide, a national wall of fame of citizens and a platform for online discussion.

Development and implementation of the national project on promoting the idea of the Society of Common Labor, which includes plans to implement the infrastructure development program “NurlyZhol” (Path to the Future), the second five-year period of industrialization and personal success stories of Kazakh citizens (heroes of our time), who achieved success since independence.

Development and implementation of the national project “NurlyBolashak” (Bright Future). Introducing values of the Mangilik El (Eternal Nation) into the current education programs.

Information support and promotion of the implementation of five institutional reforms as well as Kazakhstan’s identity in mass media, the internet, new-generation media, and social networks.

ESTABLISHING AN ACCOUNTABLE STATE

Creating a results-oriented state governance system with standardized and minimal procedures for monitoring, assessment and control. A disciplinary oversight system should be based only on achieving stated target. All procedural tasks and interim oversight should be abolished. State agencies will have independence in their activities aimed at achieving the set targets.

Establishing a reduced state planning system, decreasing the number of state programs, abolishing sector programs by integrating them into existing state programs, as well as into strategic plans of state agencies. Redesigning strategic plans and regional development programs.

Introduction of a new system for auditing and assessing public service work. Assessment of state programs will be carried out once every three years. Assessment of state agencies’ efficiency will be conducted annually. The law “On state audit and financial control” will be adopted. The accounts committee will work based on the model of world leading audit companies and move away from current operational control.

Introduction of “the open government”. Drafting law on access to information that will allow access to any information of state agencies except for highly confidential state documents and other information protected by the law.

Introduction of annual public statements by heads of state agencies on achieving key objectives and publication of their reports on official websites.

Introduction of annual reports on the performance of heads of national higher education institutions.

Ensuring online access to statistical data of central state agencies. All budget, spending and consolidated financial reports, as well as results of external assessment of state service quality will be published.

Empowering citizens to participate in the decision-making process through development of local governance. Giving more powers to the private sector and self-regulated organizations, especially when it comes to activities that are not typically performed by the state.

Independent budgets for local government will be introduced in rural areas, auyls, villages, and towns. Mechanisms will be put in place to allow citizens to participate in discussing the best way to spend the budget.

Strengthening the role of public councils under state agencies and Akims. They will discuss the implementation of strategic plans and regional development programs, as well as budgets, reports, achieving stated objectives, draft legal acts concerning rights and freedoms of citizens and draft program documents. Legally establishing these public councils will enhance transparency of state decision­making.

Establishment of a state institution “government for citizens” that will become a single provider of state services and will be based on the example of Canada service and centre link in Australia. This institution will integrate all public service centers into a single system. International certification of state services according to ISO 9000 quality management standards.

A happy future for all the people of Kazakhstan!

IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS

The National Modernization Commission under the President is established. It has five working groups, which include national and foreign experts.

Thenational commission should implement five institutional reforms on a step-by-step basis. It will ensure effective discussions between state agencies, the business sector and the civil society.

The national commission should adopt conceptual decisions and define concrete action plans. Its proposals will be approved by the President of Kazakhstan. Once approved, the Parliament will transform these proposals into legislation.

Efficiency of implementing key initiatives by Ministers and Akims will be thoroughly monitored by the national commission.

It is necessary to establish an international consultative council with experienced foreign experts, under the national commission. This council will develop recommendations and carry out independent monitoring of reforms and their implementation.

The Office of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan will act as the working body of the national commission.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan- Erlan Idrissov has received ROMANIAN PARLIAMENT MEDAL for his role in fostering the bilateral relations between the two countries and for supporting international monitoring missions, supervising the electoral process in Kazakhstan.

The awarding of the MEDAL was also motivated by the: appreciation of Minister Idrissov exertions and role in fostering the democratic process in Kazakhstan Presidential Elections and for determination in promoting the Romania-Kazakhstan relations.

On 8th May 2015, has taken place the ceremony for official handover, of the Final Election Monitoring Report for Early Presidential Elections in Kazakhstan held on 26 April 2015.

The report was compiled by Romanian delegation, lead by President General Director of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation of Romania, Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

H.E. Kazakhstan Ambassador-Daulet Batrashev(left) congratulated for his country democratic development by Professor dr. Anton Caragea (center)-IRICE President and Chairman Mihai Prundianu.

The report had analyzed the pre-election legal framework, the provisions of electoral laws and regulations and the constitutional requirements and the international obligations assumed by Kazakhstan and concluded the elections preparation had fully complied with the legal, constitutional and international standards and the prerequisite factors for free and fair elections compatible with transparency and democratic standards are in place in Kazakhstan.

Between 22 to 29 April 2015 a Romanian delegation had monitored the electoral process in Kazakhstan.

The delegation headed by Professor Dr. Anton Caragea-President General Director of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation was comprised amongst others by Chairman of Senate Committee on Romanians Abroad-Senator Marcel Dumitru Bujor, the academic director-Professor Mircea Constantinescu and a number of electoral supervisors.

The elections benefited from an impressive presence to the poll of over 95% percent of the electorate and the winner was the incumbent president Nursultan Nazarbayev, with more than 8 millions legally expressed votes.

All this factors are self evident manifestations of the Kazakh people trust in the electoral system, in free and fair and transparent electoral process and most of all in people satisfaction with the national economic and political system.

This satisfaction has being the catalyst of a huge electoral participation.

The country can be classified as a functional democracy, that can accede in the future, to the status of consolidated democracy, had declared Professor Dr. Anton Caragea.

The final report was then officially entrusted to Kazakhstan Ambassador- H.E. Daulet Batrashev, together with the electoral monitoring group congratulations.

Afterwards, the electoral monitoring body has outlined practical recommendations for future improvements in the electoral process and offered examples from their monitoring experiences, to be used as a template for declaring in the future Kazakhstan as a consolidated functional democracy.

Supervising the elections in any country in the world is a momentous and difficult task and not to be taken lightly.

You have to observe the present, but with responsibility for the future and impartiality in your heart.

If you are supervising elections in Kazakhstan, the heart of Central Asia, the task is doubled in significance, as Kazakhstan has become an example in the world.

Kazakhstan has carved himself in the centre of international politics, the host of international meetings destined to bring peace and dialogue in the world, the place where technology and tradition meets and the mediator between developed and developing countries, a place where East and West can build a bridge for dialogue.

Observing elections in such a key country it is an honourable and full of seriousness assignment.

For all this reasons, the invitation offered to me, on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, to observe the elections in the country, as an international observer, was a very challenging one, but nothing has prepared me for the phenomenon I was about to witness.

In Kazakhstan, on 26 of April 2015 I was witnessing the maturity exam of a people.

Born only in 1991, on the ruins of former Soviet Union, Kazakhstan was a young nation, a country only developing his democratic institutions and credentials.

After the early presidential elections held on 26 April 2015, we can safely conclude that this stage was phased out.

With a record presence at poll, of over 95%, people of Kazakhstan proved, without a shadow of a doubt, their commitment to free and fair elections, to build and uphold a democratic society.

While other nations are struggling to bring their electors to the urns and millions of voters disappointed by corruption and state inefficiency are feeling disenfranchised, in developing Kazakhstan millions of electors proved that democracy is not just an empty word to find in the political text books, but a living reality.

I have the pleasure of seeing the people of Kazakhstan taken their future in their hands and voting for their future development, for practical solutions, for experience to weather out the economic storm that is rummaging the world.

The elections in Kazakhstan where not just a democratic exercise, but they where the proof that the peoples power really exist and if the citizens are feeling involved in the economic, social and cultural life of their country, if the state is not failing them and provides the social benefits expected the people will respond partaking in the electoral process.

In the economic and political failed states of the world we can see the reduction of election attendance, the disinterest of the citizens and the broken down of the social contract that Rousseau and French revolutionaries had considered as the fundamentals of the state.

Kazakhstan state is honouring his social contract with his citizens and the response is this huge electoral participation.

95% electoral attendance can be a mystery in states where citizens are isolated and oppressed, but this is a reality in a functional nation.

In Kazakhstan, the 2015 elections where a national plebiscite in which the people decided above anything else their future.

I have observed this reality as hundreds of thousand of peoples turn out to vote accompanied by children’s and small infants, as they realized that it is not so much a vote for next few years, but a vote for future, for peace, for continuous democratic development and economic achievements.

Kazakhstan’s 2015 elections where undoubtedly democratic in nature, where fair and crystal clear transparent and where offering a few refreshing news for everybody.

On the fore is the news that democracy can be a real practice, can involve a nation that is educated and convinced of his role in history.

At the same time it was proven the fact that: governments and peoples are not confrontational actors on political arena, but they can cooperate to build a powerful country.

26 of April 2015 early presidential elections of Kazakhstan where the irrefutable proof of this self evident truth: that democracy can only work when all the people are involved.

INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION

FINAL REPORT (post-election) REGARDING

EARLY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

4 May 2015

Report issued on 4 MAY 2015

BUCHAREST

REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN EARLY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

26 APRIL 2015

FINAL REPORT (post-election) REGARDING

SNAP PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

INTRODUCTION

According to an official invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kazakhstan to observe the 26 April 2015 snap presidential election, the Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation decided to evaluate the political, judicial, legislative and general framework of the early presidential election from 26 April 2015.

The aim of the evaluation process was to assess the pre-election environment and the preparations for the presidential election.

The evaluation process comprised in legislative text analyses, assessment of general political situation in the country and the conformity with general accepted democratic practices and regulation and with bona fide principles.

Taken into account were also: public opinions, statements and discussions expressed by officials from different Kazakhstan institutions and the election and civil administration, as well as official spokespersons from political parties, media outlets, civil society personalities, and the international community.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF LAW PROVISIONS

According with the law prescriptions the presidential vote will start on 26 April 2015, giving the voters the chance to elect the president for a five-year term.

The law encapsulates also the necessary democratic prescriptions for an open and fair electoral process.

The April 26, 2015 election will be the fourth consecutive national election called on early bases, a supplementary proof of a democratic and viable electoral system.

The laws that are governing the presidential elections are governed by the Constitution, the Constitutional Law on Elections (Election Law), and regulations of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The assessment process considered that Kazakhstan is a viable and fully committed party to all major international and regional instruments related to the holding of democratic elections and had continuously and full abiding by his international democratic regulations.

There have been no changes to the Election Law since the last elections held in 2011, and we have to mention that in 2011 the Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation had find that the law and regulation governing the electoral process in Kazakhstan are completely corresponding to international laws and regulation insuring a perfect electoral process.

The authorities Kazakhstan authorities underlined in all public statements their nation commitment to conduct elections in compliance with the principles of openness, transparency and fairness.

The election will be administered by a complex and modern system of commissions, composed of Central Electoral Commission and including number of 14 Territorial Election Commissions and the City Election Commissions for Astana`s and Almaty`s regions, 207 District Election Commissions, and more than 9,000 Local Election Commissions (LECs).

The Central Electoral Commission composition and activity is fully independent and in perfect correspondence with international laws and regulations insuring the independence of electoral and monitoring process.

In the list of democratic provisions the Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation noted:

The fact that all citizens over 18 years of age have the right to vote, there is a nationwide electronic voter list to identify duplicate entries.

Presidential candidates are required to be citizens by birth, at least 40 years old, fluent in the state language, and officially resident in Kazakhstan for at least 15 years.

The same recommendation is made on this element as in 2011: The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation considers necessary a general recommendation for all states to include such provisions in their electoral laws insuring a perfect national representations to the highest office of the land.

The Election Law guarantees the right to conduct an unimpeded campaign for or against any candidate.

In the democratic landscape of Kazakhstan, the Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation noted the existence of a powerful independent media, with an impressive number of mass media entities operating in the country.

Also a full independent television network is offering a perfect dialogue and information source.

The Kazakhstan Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and prohibits censorship.

Keeping in mind that no elections can be considered as free and democratic without the presence of international observers the Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation decided to support Kazakhstan electoral process and democratic credential by monitoring and observing all stages of the 2015, 26 April Early Presidential Election in Kazakhstan.

The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation has monitored the full electoral process, candidate registration, and the campaign, media, and Election Day procedures with an on-site mission between 22-29 April 2015.

Turkestan Election Committee

III. ELECTION CLIMATE ANALYSES

FACT FINDING

Kazakhstan is a fully flagged democratic republic, respecting the equilibrium of powers and balanced distribution of constitutional powers.

The president is acting in full respect of the democratic system and the country has a long tradition of political process in a democratic manner and with all the guarantees for an inclusive and democratic process.

The institutional system is offering a perfect balanced voice to parliamentary and representations system.

The 26 April 2015 Early Presidential Election where convened in a perfect transparent and inclusive manner at the request of the highest representative and democratic institution in the country: Assembly of people of Kazakhstan.

The decision was upheld fully constitutional and legal based by the Constitutional Council.

The democratic initiative for an early presidential election was supported by the Kazakhstan Parliament and, on 25 February, the Kazakhstan President announced the election would be held on 26 April.

As we have mentioned previously the next election will be the fourth consecutive national election to be called early.

On 27 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan stressed the nation’s commitment to conduct a free and fair election in line with the principles of openness, transparency and fairness.

The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation considers that the electoral process is fundamental, in law provisions and spirit and in technical consideration perfectly administered, offering a perfect climate and an open and inclusive and in full fairness political discourse resulted in a perfect competitive electoral environment.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Regarding the previous respect to democratic commitments, the Republic of Kazakhstan has fully respected his international obligations regarding construction of a free electoral consultation.

We must note that: European Council on International Relations has made an in-depth analysis of the electoral law and constitutional framework of the Republic of Kazakhstan during 2011 Kazakhstan Presidential elections.

The focus of this analysis where: the mass media law, the election law, the political laws and the Constitutional Law of Kazakhstan and had operated a surveillance of the measure taken by the Central Electoral Commission in order to insure a free and open election atmosphere.

The conclusion of the European Council on International Relations monitoring commission was that: the necessary steps in order to insure an honest and balanced electoral consultation respecting democratic standards were taken by Government of Kazakhstan.

The European Union monitoring mission insured also the Election Day supervision, the supervision of counting and tabulation of elections results in a significant and representative number of sections and commissions.

The conclusions of the committee findings can be summon up as an endorsement of the law and constitutional provisions of Kazakhstan electoral system.

In the 26 April 2015 the same principles and laws are applying as in 2011 elections case.

The primary legal framework for presidential elections includes the Constitution, the Constitutional Law on Elections (Election Law), and regulations of the Central Election Commission (CEC). Other relevant laws include the Law on the President, the Law on Political Parties, the Civil Procedures Code, the Criminal Code, the Administrative Offences Code, the Law on Peaceful Assemblies, and various local regulations related to public assemblies. Kazakhstan is a party to major international and regional instruments related to the holding of democratic elections

The president is directly elected by popular vote in a two-round system.

To be elected in the first round of voting, a candidate must receive more than half of all votes cast.

If no candidate reaches the required majority, the two candidates receiving the most votes contest a second round within two months of the first round, in which the candidate who receives the higher number of votes is considered elected.

A 2007 constitutional amendment reduced the presidential term from seven to five years and exempted the first president – the incumbent President Nazarbayev – from the established limit of two consecutive terms.

In 2010, the first president was given the privileged legal status of Kazakhstan’s „Leader of the Nation” according to a parliamentary vote and respecting the constitutional framework, in a fully law abiding manner.

The incumbent president has been in office since 1991 and had a proven history of respecting the democratic rule of political process and respecting constitutional and legal boundaries.

ELECTION SUPERVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

The election will be administered by a four-layer system of election commissions. The election administration comprises the CEC, 14 Territorial Election Commissions and the City Election Commissions of Astana and Almaty (collectively referred to as TECs), 207 District Election Commissions (DECs), and more than 9,000 Local Election Commissions (LECs) including some 65 polling stations abroad.

The Republic of Kazakhstan had acquiesce to the fallowing instrumental accords for up-holding democratic values: the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1979 Convention for Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 2003 Convention against Corruption, 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,, and the 2002 Convention on the Standards of Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights and Freedoms in the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Kazakhstan is also a fully flagged member of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, a supplementary proof of the country definitive election of the democratic ways.

Membership and submission to all the previously noted agreements and treaty are creating a perfect election environment in accordance with international laws.

PROCEDURES FOR CANDIDATE NOMINATION AND REGISTRY

The Constitution and electoral law are offering the climate for an inclusive and representative participation in the electoral race: the presidential candidate may be nominated through self-nomination or by a public association, including a political party. All equally candidates are required to be citizens by birth, to have at least 40 years old, to be fluent in the Kazakh language (a condition to be observed by the Linguistic Commission, an independent body that should provide its conclusions to the Central Electoral Commission who will make the final decision on candidatures), and to be an officially resident of Kazakhstan for at least 15 years.

The nomination period that had ended on 15 March 2015 had permitted for three candidates to outline their candidature and obtain at least 93,000 valid signatures equally representing at least two-thirds of the regions as well as the cities of Astana and Almaty.

In addition they need to pay an election deposit of 1,060,000 Kazakhstan Tenge (KZT) and present tax declarations for themselves and their spouse.

The necessary prescriptions for barring from standing for office for persons related to crimes of found guilty of corruption-related crimes or administrative offences have being taken.

The language test consists of an examination of prospective candidates‟ reading, writing and speaking abilities.

Three candidates will run in the upcoming early presidential elections in Kazakhstan after law provisions: the incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the challenger from the Communist People’s Party Turgun Syzdykov and self-nominee Abelgazi Kusainov, according to a report from the Central Election Commission.

The time for submission of applications for participation in the presidential election in Kazakhstan ended on March 15.

According to the CEC secretary Bakhyt Meldeshov, as of 2015, March 16, the CEC got 27 applications.

The CEC decided to refuse registration to Limana Koishiyeva, Kanat Turageldiyev, Zharylkap Kalybai and Khasen Kozha-Akhmet, who all successfully passed the Kazakh language but failed to provide all the law required documents.

The CEC also denied registration to six candidates for the presidency of Kazakhstan for failing to appear for the Kazakh language exam which is mandatory under the law): self-nominees Yakobzhan Dzhunisbekov, Kairat Maishev, Aigul Utepova, Kanat Yeszhanov, Amantai Kazhy and Birzhan Dilmagambetov.

Mels Yeleusizov, Zhaksybai Bazilbayev and Mukhamedrakhim Kursabayev withdrew their candidacies on their own, a move the CEC approved.

The registration of candidates came to an end on March 25.

As of 2015 March 26, three candidates have the right to proceed with the election campaigning: Nursultan Nazarbayev, Turgun Syzdykov and Abelgazi Kusainov.

Conclusion: Under the full scrutiny of the democratic process in Kazakhstan, The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation considers that the period of registrations of candidature and the provisions of the law have being full respected and all the necessary procedural steps have being address insuring a perfect democratic character to the first phase of the election procedures.

Recommendation: The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation considers that a higher number of signatures on the candidate’s signature list will be a beneficial addition offering a better selection of serious candidates.

CAMPAIGN AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE. ANTI MONEY LAUNDRY PROVISIONS

The election campaign starts on 26 March, the day after the end of candidate registration, and lasts until 24 April, when the silence period starts.

The Election Law guarantees citizens and public associations the right to conduct an unimpeded campaign for or against any candidate. Local authorities are mandated to provide space for the placement of campaign posters on an equal basis and candidates may also post materials on

To finance their campaign, the CEC informed that each candidate is entitled to receive a minimum of KZT seven million (some EUR35, 000) from the state budget. In addition, candidates are allowed to use their own funds and accept donations from citizens and organizations, as well as funds from the nominating body, up to a combined total of KZT 577 million.7

Foreign and anonymous donations are prohibited.

Candidates are obliged to open dedicated bank accounts for these funds. The banks should notify the CEC if the spending limits are exceeded. Five days after the announcement of the election results, candidates are obliged to submit a report on their campaign finance to the election administration.

The CEC adopted a resolution on the campaign expenditures to be covered from the state budget. Each candidate is provided with funds for a fifteen minutes speech on TV, a ten-minute speech on the radio, as well as to publish two articles in printed newspapers.

According to the CEC the amount of funding provided to candidates for their election campaigning in the media was calculated based on the existing rates provided by the Committee for Communications, Computerization and Information of the Ministry of Investment and Development of Kazakhstan.

“Funds in the amount of 5,250,000 tenge ($28,237) are allocated to the candidates for a 15-minute speech.

For the 10-minute presentation of the program on the radio each candidate receives 200,000 tenge ($1,075). To publish two printed articles each candidate receives 810,000 tenge ($4,356). Candidates will also receive funds to rent premises for meetings with voters in the amount of 200,000 tenge and another 250,000 tenge ($1,345) to print out campaign materials. Each of the registered candidates will receive 300,000 tenge ($1,613) for travel expenses,” the CEC said.

Conclusions: The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation stated that offering a full financial support and insuring transparency and strict supervision policies are all decisions destined to discouraging money laundry, political corruption and in offering a fare and equal based financial support for all candidates, a fundamental base of democratic elections.

The Election Law is the main legal source addressing candidate rights to campaign in the media, providing equal access to state-funded airtime and print space, as well as the right to purchase additional airtime and space. Each candidate is entitled to 15 minutes of free airtime on television, 10 minutes of free airtime on radio, and 2 free articles in newspapers. For paid advertisement, all media are obliged to provide the price list of paid advertisements to the CEC, no later than 10 days after the election is announced.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS ON ELECTION OBSERVATION

One of the most important aspects in organizing internationally recognized and valid electoral process is the presence of international and internally accepted monitors.

According to Central Electoral Commission a number of 10.000 internal registered observers will by surveying the poll and number of 1.000 international monitors will also insure a country wide supervision of the electoral process.

The Kazakhstan Election Law provides for international and citizen observers, as well as authorized representatives of registered candidates. There is an accreditation procedure and observers are required to present a letter from their nominating organization and their identification documents to the election commission where they will observe the process.

We consider that the electoral system is offering the checks and balances necessary to insure a perfect democratic consultation.

Voting in Shymkent-26 April 2015

PRE-ELECTION PERIOD

The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation consider that the pre-election period was marked by full transparency, honesty and a calm electoral climate conducive to an all inclusive electoral climate.

We consider that in the early presidential election (26 April 2015) pre-election campaign Kazakhstan has fulfilled all his legal obligation on holding open, free, and fair and equal opportunity driven elections.

The conclusion of the Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation monitoring Committee is that: the necessary steps in order to insure an honest and balanced electoral consultation respecting democratic standards were fully taken by The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

As a result on 20th April 2015 the Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation decided to deploy an election mission to follow the Election Day process countrywide, and to supervise the Election Day activities, including voting, counting, and tabulation of results.

We must also underline that: election commissions at all levels handled technical aspects of the election in a professional manner in the pre-election and election period.

Their sessions were openly and transparently monitored by observers and the media.

Controlling the election list

CONCLUSIONS ON ELECTION DAY AND ELECTIONS RESULTS

POLITICAL CONTEXT:

The political environment in Kazakhstan is characterized by the presence of strong political parties with national scale activities, with genuine pluralism and a vibrant political discourse.

NGOs operate in a permissive environment, and after 2015 reform bill that is providing supplementary funding for NGO`S, offering opportunities for personal and institutional development and improving the sphere of activity for all NGO`s bodies, in such a manner that they can fulfil their role in providing quality services for Kazakhstani citizens.

Kazakhstan is enjoying a system that is open and full of liberty and the reform on NGO`s field has allowed Kazakhstan to obtain high quality services from the area of civil society.

ELECTION DAY

Election Day was calm, with no obstacle in the voting process and open to all electors in a transparent manner and a turnout of almost 95 per cent was reported.

OPENING OF POLLING STATION AND VOTING

Opening procedures were assessed positively in most polling stations visited.

The voting was done in a normal manner, no signs of forced presence, mass presence or suspicious persons or any control of voters where not observed.

The lack of any coercion in electoral activities was clearly marked.

No electoral tourism or mass migration of electors from one electoral station to another was registered.

There where also some shortcomings as: voters who did not know how to act on electoral sections, the lack of proper instructions in the management of the electoral process were also registered in some cases.

The international observers appreciated that the counting was done in an orderly, open and transparent manner, allowing for the viewing and registration of each vote; no staffing of urns was reported.

The overall climate of the counting process was an open and transparent one.

Opening the urns and counting the votes

TABULATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS OF RESULTS

The tabulation process throughout the whole country was transparent in compliance with the Kazakhstan international assumed obligations of Copenhagen Document prescribing that the results will be: “counted and reported honestly”

Every vote counts:26 April 2015

FINAL CONCLUSIONS ON ELECTORAL RESULTS OF KAZAKHSTAN EARLY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON 26 APRIL 2015

In the final conclusions of the observation and monitoring activities opened on the territory of Republic of Kazakhstan between 22-29 April 2015 the Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of international Relations and Economic Cooperation decided:

The pre-election period and campaign was characterized by a free and open legislation, encompassing all the necessary legal and constitutional procedures granting any Kazakhstan society member the right to partake on the election, to present and promote his candidature and to have the opportunity to express his views and vote.

The campaign climate was peaceful, open with no pressures upon the voters, with anti-money laundry provision insuring an equal opportunity climate for all the candidates.

The Election Day activities where conducted in a transparent manner, without pressure or state authorities’ intervention in a manner conducive to allowing the free expression of the Kazakh people.

The Early Presidential Elections in Kazakhstan held on 26 April 2015 where assessed by “1026 representatives of foreign states, international organizations and foreign media,” according to Kazakhstan’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) .

Additionally a number of 10.000 internal observers where deployed at all polling stations in the country offering the necessary checks and balances for an democratic electoral process.

In conclusion we appreciate that the vote of 26 April 2015 has expressed in a democratic manner the views and the decision of Kazakhstan people and the electoral process was clearly transparent, open, all inclusive and genuine democratic in nature and organization.

ANNEXED DOCUMENTS

FINAL ELECTION RESULT ON PROVINCES OF KAZAKHSTAN

REPORT

On the results of early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on April 26, 2015

April 26, 2015 held a special election of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The voter turnout was 95.22%.

On the basis of the protocols of oblast, Astana and Almaty election commissions on the results of the counting of votes at the extraordinary elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on April 26, 2015, the Central Election Commission It reports that voter lists for a single national constituency included 9,547,864 people, of whom took part in the vote 9,090,920 people, or 95.21 percent. Outside the polling voted 152,016 voters.

Candidates for the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan ran for 3 people.

In voting the candidates for President of the Republic of Kazakhstan gained the following number of votes: Akmola oblast:

Kusainov Abelgazi Kaliakparovich – 449 votes or 0.10 percent of voters who took part in voting;

Nursultan Nazarbayev – 438,917 votes, or 98.42 per cent of voters who took part in the vote;

Syzdykov Turgun Iskakovich – 6,600 votes or 1.48 percent of voters who took part in the vote;

In the Aktobe region:

Kusainov Abelgazi Kaliakparovich – 1906 votes or 0.44 percent of voters who took part in the vote;

Nursultan Nazarbayev – 420,824 votes, or 97.60 per cent of voters who took part in the vote;

Syzdykov Turgun Iskakovich – 48391 votes or 5.97 percent of voters, who took part in the vote,

In the Republic of Kazakhstan:

Nursultan Nazarbayev – 8,833,250 votes, or 97.75 percent of the vote who took part in the vote;

Syzdykov Turgun Iskakovich – 145,756 votes or 1.61 percent of voters who took part in the vote;

In accordance with Article 65 of the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 28 September 1995 “On elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan” is considered to be elected President of the Republic Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, born 1940, Kazakh, and member of the party “Nur Otan”, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, lives in Astana.

Between 22 to 29 April 2015, an on site Monitoring Mission for Early Presidential Elections of Kazakhstan will be deployed by the Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation in Kazakhstan.

The report highlighted that: the necessary steps in order to insure an honest and balanced electoral consultation respecting democratic standards were fully taken by The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”

Kazakhstan is a fully flagged democratic state with a long track record of holding free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections.

Romanian delegations where involved in electoral monitoring missions in 2007, 2012 parliamentary election and in 2011 presidential elections in Kazakhstan, offering a clean bill of health to the organization and managerial process of the electoral activities in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan has succeeded in asserting himself as a pillar of democracy and economic development in the world and as powerful factor of balance on international arena.

Finally Kazakhstan was inscribed amongst 50 most developed world nations and will reach the top 30 developed nations by 2020 and has just launch an ambitions economic program called: Bright Path-Nurly Zhol.

Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, President Director General of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation summarized, with this presentation, the today world standing of Kazakhstan as a driving force of humanity and express Romanian commitment in helping Kazakhstan fostering his democratic society project and in promoting Kazakhstan as a world example of open society.

Until today, Kazakhstan has succeeded in organizing elections fully complying with international norms and the preliminary legal evaluation show promising signs for 26 April 2015 Presidential Elections, concluded his assessment Professor Dr. Anton Caragea congratulating senators Marcel Dumitru Bujor, Ionel Agrigoroaei, Constantin Popa, academicians lead by Professor Dr. Mircea Constantinescu and electoral experts team lead by Mr. Gheorghe Cealfa for their efforts.

A final report on Early Presidential Elections in Kazakhstan will be made public after the delegation return from Kazakhstan comprising all the Election Day activities, announced IRICE President.

Kazakhstan is preparing to hold early elections on 26 of April 2015, with three contenders competing for the country top post: incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the challenger from the Communist People’s Party- Turgun Syzdykov and independent Abelgazi Kusainov.

Kazakhstan is heading to the polls on 26 April 2015 in a democratic society

In the preparation of the 2015 election, the country top watch dog-Central Electoral Commission announced that more than 1.000 international observers will be accredited to monitor the elections and more than 10.000 national observers will also control the polling process.

The Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation had decided to monitor the electoral process developed in Kazakhstan, on the occasion of April 26, 2015 snap presidential election.

The report outlines the fact that: „The Election Monitoring Committee of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation considers that the period of registrations of candidature and the provisions of the law have being full respected and all the necessary procedural steps have being address insuring a perfect democratic character to the first phase of the election procedures.”

After analyzing the constitutional prescription, the laws, the Central and Local Electoral Committee management and prerogatives, the funding operating system , the publicity and equal promotion framework the report remarks: „The conclusion of the Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation monitoring Committee is that: the necessary steps in order to insure an honest and balanced electoral consultation respecting democratic standards were fully taken by The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”

The conclusions of the group of experts comprised of parliamentarians lead by Senators Marcel Dumitru Bujor, Ionel Agrigoroaei, Constantin Popa, academicians lead by Professor Dr. Mircea Constantinescu and electoral experts team lead by Mr. Gheorghe Cealfa were received by Professor Dr. Anton Caragea-President Director General of Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation.

Professor Dr. Anton Caragea accepted the findings of the report and agreed with his recommendation: that a team of experts and parliamentarians from Institute of International Relations and Economic Cooperation will follow the Election Day process countrywide, and will supervise the Election Day activities, including voting, counting, and tabulation of results in the Republic of Kazakhstan presidential elections.

Based on this report Professor Dr. Anton Caragea accepted to lead a monitoring mission for Kazakhstan Presidential Election. ″We are not accepting such a monitoring mission, if we don’t have the confidence that the organizing state is committed in respecting fundamental values and democratic process″,

Kazakhstan has fully responded by respecting his democratic commitments and the highest standard of electoral competitions and we hope hat the 26 April-Election Day will be another proof of the democratic standards upholded by Kazakhstan. We will be there to monitor on the site evolutions, stated Professor Anton Caragea, IRICE President.

Breaking News

On 15 July 2016 H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea has received his official nomination as GLOBAL AMBASSADOR OF TOURISM in addition to the 2014 appointment as GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR WORLD PROTECTED AREAS AND NATURAL PARKS
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The Kingdom of Cambodia had received the official visit of Professor Dr. Anton Caragea high-ranking delegation in a joint effort to boost the friendship and dialogue on international stage.

The visit was inscribed in the bilateral decision to uphold the rapid development of the cultural, trade, economic and political ties.
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Between 22 May and 29 May 2015, H.E.Professor Dr. Anton Caragea has lead an official Monitoring Mission for Kazakhstan Early Presidential Elections
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Between 28 May and 7 June 2014 H.E.Professor Dr. Anton Caragea has lead an official European delegation to Republic of Zimbabwe and had assisted to World Best Tourist Destination Ward Ceremony for 2014.
H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea was congratulated for his instrumental role in promoting Zimbabwe candidature for hosting World Best Tourist Destination for 2014.

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Between 25 November to 2 December 2013 H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea was invited for an official working visit to United Arab Emirates on the occasion of the 42 anniversary of UAE National Day.
H.E. Professor Dr. Anton Caragea was congratulated for his instrumental role in promoting Dubai candidature for World Expo 2020.
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Between 30 October to 4 November 2013 His Excellency Professor Dr. Anton Caragea has being invited by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan to attend Baku International Humanitarian Forum 2013

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